Snow Time

Day one.... week one.... month one.... all are over and done..... Wow. Where has the time gone! It has been a hectic few months, but some awesome entertainment has been enjoyed amongst the havoc. It started in early February with a chilly but lively get-together of the Cooke Clan....

Newly engaged!
Congrats Jen and Rod!

A lovely day out at the Cookes' place!

I've also been doing some snow biking - you know, the version that requires a slight amount of human power....

The fat tire bikes are a blast and this past weekend offered up some stellar weather for being outside. A chunk of time was spent inside as well, to hang this beast on the wall in my place in Canmore - a limited edition print by local artist Fraser McGurk.....

My favorite of the Rockies - Castle Mountain!

I have a crazy-busy work schedule that is not going to let up for a few more months, so I am powering myself through it by living from weekend to weekend. Which means that as of this evening, there are only four more sleeps until the next weekend is here! Yeah!

Cheers.




Week one.... is done!

Mmmmm, the mountains! The cold spell over the holidays finally released its grip (temporarily anyhow!), and a beautiful weekend was Week One of 2018's treat for me out west.

In between the plumbing and electrical projects at my place in Canmore, I did spend some time having actual fun pedaling the fat tire bike around the trails and enjoying the loveliness of the winter landscape. There still isn't all that much snow, but I'm sure it'll show up at some point!

A new kitchen faucet!

A new dining room light fixture!

The condo 'upgrades' were minor but they give it a rejuvenated feel. A downside of making minor changes is that they can lead to more major changes.... and I have a list as long as my arm of things I'd like to change! Oy.

Anyway, it seems like forever since I've had to show up to work on a Monday, much less put in a full forty hours.... But, one down, three to go! Yeah!

Cheers.


Day One....

Two thousand and eighteen is here people! I can hardly believe it, and along with that another 'holiday season' is over. The past few weeks were like being on a tilt-a-whirl - a really, really, REALLY cold tilt-a-whirl that is.... but it's been a lot of fun.

I headed to Medicine Hat to visit with the family and finally meet their newest addition - Jack. He's a 6-month old French bulldog, and he's super duper cute and a smarty pants to boot!

Driving the back roads to the Hat.

Jacques... c'mon, he's French, right!!?

The first couple of days were the usual eating and drinking with the occasional card game thrown in. On the eve of Christmas Eve however, the shenanigans began. A visit to 18th Street from the jolly old fellow himself started off a night of serious merriment.

Just a sampling of what 'fueled the fire' so to speak....

If you've ever been here, you know how it goes!

A group of about 20 of us invaded the timeless classic of a bar called the Royal Hotel, in downtown Medicine Hat. We arrived in a stretch limousine, and I'm certain the live band kicked it up a notch just for us, as we all drank and danced and hovered on the edge of causing trouble, right up until the lights came on. It didn't quite end there though, and reminiscent of my college days, I dragged a couple of diehards back to my parents' house with me and we continued the party.

The next day was a long one for a few over-indulgent friends who had to travel home. I on the other hand felt not too bad, and preparations for my Mom's Christmas dinner ensued.

I you-tubed how to make napkins look
like Christmas trees.

Dunkster and Elmo.... best parents EVER!

Christmas dinner.

Totally stuffed with turkey and all the yummy fixins, I rolled back to Red Deer late on Boxing Day. With the entire province dipped into a major deep freeze, aside from leaving the house to pick up necessities, the last five days have been spent hunkered down indoors. Brrrrr!!

Only in Alberta.... a 30 degree temperature
swing, in five days. Woot!

It has been an incredibly relaxing, much needed break from the craziness of my job, although the insanity will resume shortly. I head across the continent for business once again mid-January, subsequent to which I expect to be working long, long days and likely several weekends. But I'm not complaining - I am happy to be employed and am grateful for the challenge and opportunity I've been presented with.

Next up - I'm looking forward to seeing Kristen.... Lindsay and Nichole spent Christmas with their Dad, but Kristen was in Vancouver for the holidays this year. Hopefully she'll be traveling east sometime soon! There is a tree and your presents waiting for you Kristen!

 

Happy New Year to everybody - may 2018 bring you love, laughter, health, and prosperity! Out with the old, in with the new!

Cheers!




The Final Countdown

Ten more sleeps, and another year will be over. Wow. Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that I was sitting here, pecking away at the keyboard, describing how quickly I thought 2016 zipped by??! Wow.

It's been an interesting 12 months to say the least, and 2017 is rounding out as busy as ever - it has been non-stop since returning from Vancouver! I volunteered at the always entertaining Festival of Trees along with several of my fellow employees, where we served brunch to somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 lovely ladies over the course of two action-packed hours. Next up was the office Christmas party, which was a great excuse to get all dolled up for an evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing. The night following saw us decked out in Flames jerseys as we took in the 'battle of Alberta'. And then there was the Sunday afternoon company family Christmas party - it always makes me laugh - I signed up to hand out gifts to all the little kiddos who attended.

Serving up some attitude! LOL

Great turnout at the kids' party!

We clean up pretty nicely!

A girl's gotta have accessories!

Not exactly the outcome we had hoped, but.....
still fun to watch the Flames in action!

The next stop for me after a few days in Canmore was South Carolina, which was a full-tilt week of all work and no play.

December??

Yes this was my luggage for an entire week!

Things are now winding down at work, and after today I will be off until the New Year. I really need a break and am excited to spend time with the Parents, as well as out in the mountains.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2018 to everyone! Be safe and have a fabulous holiday season!

Cheers!